I am one of those people who will be leaving large amounts to animal charities when I am no longer around. I am already a monthly contributor to the Retired Greyhound Trust.
I have no children, and my nieces /nephews I see once in a blue moon - but they will inherit their own parents properties, and I won't be adding to their pot. Yes there are thousands of deserving charities from medical research, children, elderly, mental health, you name it, there is a charity or deserving cause that needs funding.
From my own point of view, medical research into whatever illness, should be funded by the massive profits made by pharmaceutical companies, governments should be wholely responsible for the welfare of children and the elderly, and yes local and national fund raising for various other charities is the only way these charities can operate.
Animals - my cats and dogs, have given me so much pleasure throughout my life and ask for so little in return, that I have no qualms at all at funding these establishments /charities to keep safe, warm and well, the donkeys, cats and dogs that no of no other home, because they do not receive any help from any other source.
We hear constantly of care home workers being charged with abusing the elderly in care homes, and sadly we hear of children being abused all the time. But how many times do we hear of those working in animal rescue and re-homing centres being charged with cruelty and ill treatment to those in their care ? Hardly ever.